Political representation of nationals abroad
Eduardo da Fonseca Quá
General Directorate of Consular Affairs
and Portuguese Communities (DGACCP)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Portugal
11
Riga, 17th December 2012
4 244 000
Portuguese population (or with Portuguese
origin) living abroad 2010/2011
Source: DGACCP
22
Political representation of nationals abroad
Europe -» 1 600 000
North and South America -» 2 250 000
Africa -» 330 000
Asia -» 45 000
Oceania -» 18 000
Source: DGACCP
33
Political representation of nationals abroad
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs support the
Portuguese Communities:• Social; • Juridic; • Cultural; • Portuguese Language/Learning
Portuguese abroad;• Associativism.
44
Political representation of nationals abroad
Portugal tries to maintain the links also
through the political participation:• Election of Members of Parliament
(MP); • Portuguese Communities Bureau /
Conselho das Comunidades Portuguesas.
55
Political representation of nationals abroad
66
The 230 Members of Portuguese
Parliament are elected by 22 electoral
circles.
66
Political representation of nationals abroad
77
Our Parliament has 4 MP`s elected by 2
electoral circles dedicated to the
Portuguese living abroad:• 2 MP`s elected by the electoral
circle Europe;• 2 MP`s elected by the electoral
circle Off the Europe (rest of the world).
Political representation of nationals abroad
Portuguese living abroad can also vote to
the election for the Republic President.
To vote in both elections, Portuguese
citizens must be registered at the
Portuguese Consulate and vote in person.
88
Political representation of nationals abroad
The Portuguese Communities Bureau
started in 1980 and was the first
experience of institutional listening and
dialogue between the Portuguese
government and its emigration and
Diaspora.
99
Political representation of nationals abroad
1010
The main function of the Portuguese
Communities Bureau is to be a consultative
body of the government in various subjects:• Provide opinion to legislative proposals
of the Government or Parliament regarding Portuguese living abroad;
• Make proposals and recommendations about the emigration policies.
Political representation of nationals abroad
1111
The bureau is composed by 73 members:• 63 are elected by the citizens with
inscription at the Portuguese Consulate;
• 10 are appointed by the associations of Portuguese living abroad; by the representatives of emigrants from Madeira and Azores (autonomic regions of Portugal); and by the Portuguese elected at some organization on the destination country.
Political representation of nationals abroad
1212
The Portuguese Communities Bureau is composed by a Permanent Council and has some Commissions:
• Associativism and Media;• Social Affairs and Migration;• Language, Education and Culture;• Economic Affairs;• Consular Affairs;• Political participation.
Political representation of nationals abroad
1313
Despite the political participation at the
origin country, Portugal strongly supports
the engagement of national citizens with
the political activity on the destination
country.
Political representation of nationals abroad
1414
Thank you!
Paldies!
Political representation of nationals abroad